Windber Medical Center

WIN 2014

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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A
beach house getaway can be the
perfect setting for footloose family fun
and memories—as long as you do your
homework before you hit the sand.
The first thing you'll need to do, say
travel experts, is decide whether you even want your
beach house to be at the beach.
"Location and proximity to the beach, boardwalk or
town center should be your main consideration when
selecting a beach rental," says Jodi Bettencourt, vice
president, Digital Editorial, for TravelChannel.com. "Do
you want to be beachfront, beach view or within blocks
of the water? Size and price considerations usually go
hand in hand, so you'll need to decide if a modern
six-bedroom is worth the cost when a small and cozy
cottage would suffice."
On the other hand, if your group includes young
children, you may find that beachfront is best so you
don't have to shuttle everyone back and forth in the car
every time you go to the beach. (And your car will stay
cleaner too.)
CHOICE AMENITIES
It's the little extras that can make a beach house vacation
extra special and hassle free. Parking for more than one
car, outside space such as a deck or screened porch,
access to a swimming pool or outdoor shower, a hot
tub, barbecue grills, fire pits and fireplaces are typical
family-friendly amenities that you might want to put on
your must-have list.
The rental listing will usually provide a roster of the
house's amenities, but be sure to ask rather than assume
about anything that's especially important to you, such
as air conditioning or an on-site washer/dryer. Beach
gear such as towels and chairs is typically included,
"but each home is different, so this varies rental by
rental," says Jon Gray, senior vice president of HomeAway, a vacation rental listing service. "That's why
it's important to have a detailed conversation with the
owner before traveling to make sure you'll have everything you need when you arrive."
Thinking about treating Rover to some sun and surf
with the family? Pets are a special amenity category,
and about one in five HomeAway beach rentals allow
them, according to Gray.
"It's up to the individual owners regarding what kinds,
size and number of pets will be allowed," he says.
"It's also not uncommon to pay a pet fee if you bring
animals with you."
Beach gear basics
Whether you bring your own gear or
are lucky enough to rent a house that
includes beach supplies, you'll want
to have:
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Beach chairs
Beach mats
Beach towels
Umbrellas or tents
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Cooler with wheels
Beach toys
Flotation devices
Sunscreen
DINING WITHOUT WHINING
One of the best parts of staying at a beach house is that
you don't have to go out for every meal, so you can accommodate a variety of eating styles and food preferences.
"Forget about bringing a week's worth of groceries
from home—it's much more fun to have everyone contribute to the meal plan, grocery list, shopping and preparation after you get to the beach," says Bettencourt.
She recommends keeping breakfast, lunch and snacks
simple, portable and self-serve, relying on tried-and-true
options such as bagels, cereal, sandwiches and fruit. At
dinnertime, "think about making a reservation, ordering
in pizza, or building a meal around local seafood like
crabs, clams or lobster," she says.
RAINY DAY FUN
Gray skies can drop in on
even the sunniest beach
locales, so don't count on
the beach providing all of
your entertainment every
day. If bad weather hits, be
prepared with your first line of
defense—old-fashioned board games and new-fashioned
video games that everyone can play together.
And if your beach house is in a vacation area, there
will likely be indoor activities nearby for all ages when
cabin fever sets in.
"Look for arcades, indoor putt-putt or go-carts, arts
and crafts workshops at local stores or galleries, fun
museums, aquariums, or live entertainment like puppet
shows," says Bettencourt. "Adults without kids could check
out the local shops or larger outlet malls, tour a nearby
historic site, find a live music venue, take an exercise class
or catch a movie." •
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